Omni Houston Hotel to reopen after $30M renovation following flooding

Omni Houston Hotel — which sustained significant flooding from Hurricane Harvey in which one worker died — is undergoing a $30 million renovation process, according to a May 11 press release.

The 378-room hotel, at 4 Riverway in the Uptown area, has been closed since Harvey and is set to reopen on Nov. 1, per the release and the hotel’s website.

Some "very minor refresh plans" were in the works before the storm, but those plans were adjusted after the hotel sustained damages, a spokeswoman said. Additionally, the hotel is working with a civil engineering firm to create a flood-mitigation plan based on recommendations from the firm, but the full plan has not been determined yet, the spokeswoman said.

Meanwhile, the renovations announced May 11 will include floor-to-ceiling windows, open communal spaces and the idea of bringing the outdoors inside, with a design aesthetic incorporating leathers, bronze, brass and lush greens, per the release. For instance, the lobby will feature a moss wall.

Also on the first floor, there will be a high-end retail venue, coffee and wine bar, and whiskey room paying homage to Houston’s history, per the release. Black Swan, the hotel’s nightclub, will return with a modern design, and the first-floor restaurant will be transformed, with design inspiration drawn from nearby Memorial Park.

“The dining outlet, which has been (reconceptualized), will encourage guests to gather, collaborate and socialize around the curved shaped bar for a communal feel,” the release states.

Meeting space on the first and second floors also will be redesigned and expanded by 2,500 square feet, including two new conference areas with boardrooms and breakout space.

Finally, Mokara Spa & Salon will be redesigned with soft, whitewashed woods and lush green walls, per the release. Treatment rooms will feature earthy elements such as raw wood accents and stones, while the salon will have a more contemporary look.

The release also notes that Allan Codore, a longtime Omni employee, will take over as general manager on June 1. Codore started with the Omni brand 22 years ago and has held several positions, including director of front office operations from 1997 to 2000 at the Omni Houston Hotel. He currently serves as currently the general manager at Omni New Haven Hotel.

DPR Construction is the general contractor on the Omni renovations, and Perkins + Will Boston is the architecture and interior design team, the spokeswoman said.